Seasonal Incidence and management of predatory wasps (Vespa spp., Hymenoptera: Vespidae) attacking Apis mellifera L. colonies
Loading...
Date
2022-12-29
Authors
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
College of Horticulture & Forestry, Neri, Hamirpur
Abstract
Studies on seasonal incidence and management of predatory wasps (Vespa spp. in apiary of Apis mellifera
L. colonies” was conducted with the objective to study the efficacy of different techniques used to protect the
honey bees from the attack of different species of wasps and to check the impact of different weather parameters
(maximum temperature, minimum temperature, relative humidity and rainfall) on the incidence of predatory
wasps. Three different wasp species were recorded during the study period viz., Vespa auraria, V. basalis and V.
cincta. Among these three species of wasps V. auraria was recorded as the regular visitor in the apiary. The peak
incidence of V. auraria was observed in the month of September (238.67) and V. basalis attained a peak period
in the month of October (48.58). The incidence of V. cincta was initiated from June and attained a peak period in
the month of September (31.83). Different techniques were used to manage wasps in the apiary like trapping of
wasps and use of baits to attract the wasps. For trapping purpose sugar solution, fermented honey solution, Jaggery
(gur) solution and use of heptyl butyrate + sugar solution were used. All the solutions were able to trap all three
species wasps but maximum population of wasps were trapped in fermented honey solution viz., V. auraria
(38.75), V. basalis (27.50) and V. cincta (26.67) which is followed by wasps trapped in sugar solution i.e. V.
auraria (37.25), V. basalis (23.00) and V. cincta (18.00). Jaggery solution and heptyl butyrate + sugar solution
were less preferred by all the three species of wasps as compared to sugar solution and fermented honey solution.
To observe the attractancy of different wasps species, two fruit baits (apple and pear) and two protein baits
(chicken and fish) were used in the apiary. All the baits attracted V. auraria and V. basalis but V. cincta was
almost negligibly attracted to the baits. The maximum population of wasps were attracted by pear bait viz., V.
auraria (8.58), V. basalis (7.33) and V. cincta (1.60) which is followed by wasps attracted by apple bait i.e. V.
auraria (2.83), V. basalis (2.35) and V. cincta (0.59). From the present investigation it was concluded that among
all the treatments used, fermented honey solution and sugar solution were the best methods to be used in the apiary
to protect honey bees from different wasp species.